Silence is golden

I take notes on my notebook computer whenever I can - so almost always take it to meetings. I also am often sliding in at the last minute before a meeting starts. So I push the "on" button to my computer (the computer through which I was running my MP3 player before I popped it from its docking station) and bingo - Windows music sings forth as it starts up - often really loudly. How embarassing! I know, had I been more foresighted, I would have muted the computer before I downpowered it -- ain't gonne happen.

I guess more than a few others have been victim to the tuneful boot up sequence. Thanks to colleague Donovan for pointing out the oh-duh solution on Lifehacker. Plug into the headphone jack with a pair of ear buds, and no more disruptive noise. Now, why didn't I think of that. Of course, this presupposes that I will remember to bring the earbuds to the meeting.

Equally embarassing is my Motorola cell phone, which chimes as I turn it down to vibrate. Now, if I didn't want it to be silent, I wouldn't be pressing the volume down control, would I? Have to do the plug in thing on the phone, too. Oh, the noise pollution our electronic toys create.